Booth's Blog: We’ll Have You In Stitches This Saturday By
Emily Booth, Wednesday 4th May 2016

Clowns. We’re not altogether sure why they freak us out - they just do. Who’d have thought something designed to make us laugh and entertain our children would become such a potent symbol in horror films, sometimes even taking the starring role? With our network premiere of the brilliantly demented Stitches this Saturday I thought I’d delve in to the psyche behind these psychos!

The official term for ‘fear of clowns’ is an odd one; coulrophobia and is incredibly common! In fact music festival Bestival had to cancel their ‘clown themed’ event due to the huge response from ticket holders expressing their hatred of the red nosed buffoons! So what is it that we find disturbing? The exaggerated features, the giant feet, the crazy unpredictable behaviour, the eerie silence they maintain while supposedly entertaining you with wide-eyed demented laughter? Yup, I can see why they’re a nightmare! Which is why they’ve been a staple character in horror movies over the decades. Who can forget that nightmare scene in Poltergeist (1982) when Robbie discovers to his horror the toy clown has moved from his regular spot on the chair and is hiding under his bed! Stephen King also dedicated a whole novel to the creepy killer clown theme with It which became a popular TV serial that, as most of you know was a Horror Channel favourite!

The wise cracking clown has the ability to tap into and represent childhood fears and phobias, especially I think, trust issues! As a child you’re supposed to be able to trust an adult, but in the case of these red nosed hysterical madmen, this is totally not the case!

Such is the case with Stitches. Taking the comedy horror route, the clown in this brilliant movie from Conor McMahon is initially just a messed up bloke with a drink problem; the very last person who should be hosting a children’s birthday party as he slurs and burps his way through bad jokes and bad tricks throwing insults to anyone who raises objection. But one party goes from bad to worse when a childish prank played on Stitches does not end well for this children’s “entertainer”. It wouldn’t be a spoiler to say that Stitches winds up 6 feet under but returns from the grave a few years later with some new tricks up his sleeve to wreak revenge on the kids who took him down!

This movie is pure popcorn – it’s Saturday night heaven! With stand-up legend Ross Noble taking the lead role of, this is horrifically hilarious from start to finish with superbly bad taste humour and gags that really will make you, well, gag! Taking it’s cue from classic clown tricks the death scenes are some of the most inventive I’ve ever seen, including someone’s head being blown up like a balloon, scoops of brain ice cream and a rabbit pulled out of a very different kind of hole!

Ta Daaaaa!

Do not miss the non stop fun that is Stitches in the network premiere Saturday the 7th 10.50pm.

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